Best programming and hacker quotes. Ever.
Curated by fellow hackers Jarmo Pertman & Andri Möll
Every program attempts to expand until it can read mail. Those programs which cannot so expand are replaced by ones which can.
Jamie Zawinski
On two occasions I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
Charles Babbage
Wherever there is modularity there is the potential for misunderstanding: Hiding information implies a need to check communication.
Alan J. Perlis
Question: How does a large software project get to be one year late? Answer: One day at a time!
Fred Brooks
Processes and methodologies can make good servants but are poor masters.
Mark Dowd, John McDonald & Justin Schuh
If you're going to break it, then break it good. Break everything. Get to the very front of the line. Don't like move up a couple of slots. That's pointless.
Anders Hejlsberg
Selecting a project due date before the requirements are properly gathered is like selecting which corner you want to paint yourself into, while simultaneously negating the doorway as a viable option.
Chris Ames
We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil.
Donald Knuth
God did not create the world in seven days; for six days he screwed around and then pulled an all-nighter.
Anonymous
People who think, "Oh this is a one-off," need to be offed, or perhaps politely removed from the project.
George Neville-Neil